Saturday, February 2, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Hollywood actress Eva Mendes has entered a rehabilitation center to tackle substance-abuse problems, celebrity magazine People reported on its website Friday.The 33-year-old star of "Hitch" and "We Own the Night," has been undergoing treatment at Utah's Cirque Lodge center for several weeks, the report said."Eva has been working hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that, while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support," a representative for Mendes told People. "Out of respect for Eva's privacy, we do not wish to discuss further details."Cirque Lodge was in the headlines last year after actress Lindsay Lohan checked into the facility following dual arrests for drink-driving.Mendes, who is of Cuban-American background, is one of the best known Latino actresses in Hollywood, having risen to prominence after landing a role with Denzel Washington in 2001 hit "Training Day."She has starred alongside Will Smith in the romantic comedy "Hitch" and Nicolas Cage in last year's "Ghost Rider."Later this year she will appear in a remake of "The Women," starring alongside Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Bette Midler.